Christian sighed deeply. Even after meditating, watching a movie from Jim's memory, and listening to the harp's music, he could not sleep well last night. So, he woke up and practiced his morning meditation to ensure he was in the best shape for the day.
However, as soon as his meditation ended, his identification card warned him that someone was outside his room, waiting for him. Intrigued, Christian opened the door, and for a moment, he lost his breath.
Kallista stood opposite him in a white toga with a golden sash around her waist. Her shining black hair hung casually on her back, showing a perfect balance with the purity of her white clothes. She smiled, and for a moment, Christian thought the sun had formed a halo around her.
"What? Is there something on my face?"
"I desperately want to compare your beauty with Aphrodite, but I have a feeling this is taboo around here."
Kallista's smile intensified: "Are you mesmerized?"
"No comment," Christian said as he regained his bearing. He decided to change the topic immediately. "Why are you here?"
"I came to check in case you were lost."
"Thanks for worrying about me, but I think I'll be fine. Most likely." He had memorized all the routes, but sometimes, that was not enough. He may need a few days of practice to get to know everything around him.
"Most likely?"
"Alright. I appreciate you coming. Come in, I just finished my meditation. Give me a few minutes to shower and eat, then we can leave."
"Meditation?" Kallista asked as she entered the room. "Isn't that something only [Novices] do after choosing their teacher?"
"I don't know about that. I've been meditating since I was eight, and it has many benefits, including training focus and willpower. You should try it."
Christian immediately realized he had repeated something stupid after seeing her reaction. "How clueless and insensitive of me. How about I teach you?"
"No, no, there is no need."
"I know the control of knowledge is strict in this part of the world, but where I'm from, we believe in making knowledge more accessible — we believe in sharing for the better development of magic. So, I don't really mind."
"That's a great philosophy and all, but I can't accept such a precious thing."
"How about this? I teach you how to meditate, and you teach me Hymn Magic?"
"How is that a fair trade? There are many classes on Hyman Magic in the library. You'll have a better chance at learning from them."
"Let me think: learning one-on-one from a beautiful woman like you, or learning from an old geezer who possibly spits when he speaks? Oh no, what a difficult choice!" Christian said while exaggerating his facial expression.
Kallista laughed, showing her pearly white teeth. "Fine. On account of you calling me beautiful, I'll gladly teach you."
"Now we're talking," Christian nodded. "Alright, give me a few minutes to wash off." After dealing with his hygiene and eating, Christian and Kallista headed out to the library. As they walked to their destination, Christian saw all kinds of people walking the same way, but everyone was in a group based on their blood or racial identity, making his closeness with a Veela strange.
"I remember something. During my written test, I saw a group of mortals taking it. Why is that?"
"They are magic scholars," Kallista explained. "They study magic theories and create new ones, which other wizards will then test and verify."
"That's quite interesting."
"I thought you would show disdain like most wizards," Kallista commented.
"Why? If you think about it logically, it's a brilliant idea. Magic theory is boring, meaning most wizards won't spend time studying, let alone developing it. However, mortals can only access magic through knowledge and theories.
"Whoever designed this system probably wanted to use their large population, guiding them to benefit the magical world."
"Most wizards or even magical creatures are not as insightful as you," Kallista stated. "Magic scholars have essentially pioneered the field of Arithmancy, but they still do not get the credit they deserve."
"Arithmancy is a great form of Divination, and it's the foundation for inventing spells. It would be stupid not to appreciate it," Christian shook his head.
"Well, hatred, discrimination, and bigotry have never been logical, have they?"
"Wise words," Christian nodded. They soon arrived at their destination, and Christian immediately noticed the golden hue around the books from the Curator's spell. However, he did not care about that, so he separated from Kallista as he searched for what he had come here for.
'The note said [3-M4-675–890]. The 3 is the third level, and the M4 represents the Miscellaneous Area,' Christian thought as he reached his destination. He followed the number and soon found an inconspicuous black book in one of the shelves. He felt an odd sensation from this book, similar to the Muggle Repelling Charm; if he was not focused or searching for this book, he might not have noticed it.
Christian took the small book, less than two inches thick, and read the cover: "To the Destined One." Christian frowned before opening the first page. He was confused as he saw a blank white page. Luckily, he did not have to think long before ink writing appeared on the page:
[Hello, Young Planeswalker Seed, it's me, Merlin.]
"Are you saying you're Merlin? The Merlin — one of the greatest wizards in the world?" Christian asked.
[That title is heavily exaggerated, but that's me.]
"How do I know you're telling the truth?"
[I doubt there is a concrete way to prove my identity, but Vincent can vouch for me.]
"Whose Vincent?"
[I believe you know him as the Curator.]
"I see," Christian muttered. "Let's assume you are indeed Merlin. What is this book? Did you leave a piece of your soul in it?"
[What an interesting conclusion, but no. I have only enchanted my memories and thought patterns in this book to convey crucial information to people like you.
"Vital information? Can you tell me how to get home?" Christian immediately asked.
[We will get there. Before I start, can you tell me what you know about your situation?]
"Not much, honestly. I know I'm something called a Planeswalker Seed, and I am destined for a horrible life because of it."
[That's a succinct way of putting it. Unfortunately, your lack of knowledge means these people have complete control of history, and the Mystic Weavers have failed their duty.]
"What are Mystic Weavers?" Christian asked.
[Be patient, and I'll explain everything soon. Now, tell me about your life, starting from when you first awakened your magical powers. You don't have to be detailed, but please do not hide important information. I need to know how much you know to understand how much I can reveal.]
Christian frowned, weighing the pros and cons. On one hand, he indeed wanted to know if this book could tell him how to get home. However, he was also wary of this sentient book that wanted to know about his personal life.
'Tell him,' a deep voice said in his mind.
'The Curator?'
'It's me. You can trust him.'
"Alright, I guess," Christian sighed. Ultimately, he had little choice. This book might be his only way home, so whether he liked it or not, he had to trust it. So, Christian told the book everything, including Jim, only hiding specific personal details about his family.